So my truck was makin a clunking nouse from the front end, and i finally crawled under there to see if I could figure out what the trouble was. turns out the front u joint on my front driveshaft was toast... well maybe even worse than that.

Anyways this seems to have caused some wear on the slipjoint and the splines on the shaft it goes onto. So for now I replaced the u joint that was screwed. and will put it back together and see how it it goes.

My part's guy send me down to a local driveline shop to see about getting a new slipjoint, apparently they can't get the one my truck needs anymore so fixing that (if required) would involve welding a new splined part onto the driveshaft to match the new slipjoint. Now to a guy with as little 4x4 system working on as me these guys made it seem like fixing my driveshaft was like rocket science, with a price to match.

So I was thinkin maybe if i still have probs I should just order up a new/ rebuilt driveshaft. anyone know who makes one? would any aftermarket guys sell driveshafts for an 85 dodge w150? any advice is appreciated Thanks!

 

Any wrecking yards around you? Might look there.

You should be able to use most anything from the mid 80's I think. But don't quote me on it.

If not there is always ebay, you can find anything on ebay. Might also try rockauto for a rebuilt part.

 

Are you absolutely positive the slip joint is the problem? The slip joint rarely if ever fails. Are you sure it isn't the cardivan joint that is bad?

 

it's hard to explain online but basically I could move the front of the driveshaft up and down about an inch or 2 if i pushed on it right beside the u joint, even with it bolted to the front diff. I am 100 percent sure that if i need to replace the slipjoint and the teeth on the other driveshaft that it slides over it is from the movement caused by the u joint failure.

is the cardivan joint the 2 other u joints and knuckle right up by the transfer case? if so it seems to be fine, everything there is tight.

I did find some rebuilt driveshafts listed online for about 280 bucks. My parts guy up here in canada tells me it'll be around 500 if i get it from them. the guy at the driveline shop says like 250 just for a slpijoint + whatever it costs for the shaft it slides onto and welding that onto the driveshaft.

I thought I would ask here because I'm not really a hardcore 4x4 guy and thought maybe some of you guys who go out and wheel and actually bust up parts might give me some tips on upgrading to a bigger badder driveshaft setup. and ya I did think about the auto wreckers, but they ain't as cheap as they used to be and i wouldnt want to get another screwed up driveshaft. This truck is my daily driver. keep the ideas coming Thanks!

 

You are correct about the cardivan joint being a double u-joint assembly. Bigger badder driveshafts get real expensive real quick.